10 Die in Violence in Mexican Pacific Resort City

CHILPANCINGO, Mexico – At least 10 people, including one person who was beheaded, died in drug-related violence in the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco, state officials said.

The bullet-riddled bodies of a woman and two men were found early Monday in the Cima district of Acapulco, Guerrero Public Safety Secretariat officials told Efe.

Three other bodies were found in different places on the outskirts of the resort city, with one victim dumped at a butcher’s stall in a market.

Two other bodies were found around midnight Sunday, and both victims were shot dead, officials said.

The Acapulco fire department found a mutilated body and a severed head on the seat of a burning vehicle on Monday afternoon.

Police, meanwhile, said a person was gunned down in the La Lajita district.

Acapulco, one of Mexico’s most famous tourist destinations, has been plagued by drug-related violence in recent years.

The La Barredora gang and the Cartel Independiente de Acapulco have been fighting for control of the resort city for more than a year.

The two gangs were originally part of the criminal organization run by Edgar Valdez Villarreal, officials say.

Valdez Villarreal, known as “La Barbie,” was arrested by the Federal Police on Aug. 30, 2010.

Guerrero Gov. Angel Aguirre Rivero launched a security operation last year with the support of the federal government to step up security in areas frequented by foreign and domestic tourists.

“Operation Safe Guerrero” was launched on Oct. 6, 2011, in an effort to reduce the soaring crime rate in the state.

Acapulco, a favorite among Mexican and foreign tourists for decades, has lost business to other destinations due to the violence.

President Felipe Calderon made an appearance in the Pacific resort city in May to officially launch a new crime-fighting plan.

The goal of the “Todos por Acapulco” program, which is based on an initiative implemented in the violent border city of Ciudad Juarez, is to end drug-related violence and promote development in the resort city.

Todos por Acapulco is not a “police program,” Calderon said, noting that it was a social program aimed at creating opportunities via education, jobs, sports and culture.

About 50,000 people have died in Mexico’s drug war since December 2006, when Calderon declared war on the country’s powerful cartels, sending soldiers into the streets to fight criminals.